JPH0760981A - Ink-jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent ink from leaking to the outside at the time of replacing a cartridge and to prevent the cartridge from being stained and to instantly resume normal recording actuation by constituting such an ink supply pipe that a negative pressure-generating member is pressed by the ink supply pipe and length L thereof inserted into an ink cartridge satisfies specified formulae including the outside diameter D and the inside diameter (d) of the tip of the ink supply pipe and the suction quantity V of a recovery pump. CONSTITUTION:Even when an ink supply pipe is attached and detached repeatedly, the insertion quantity L of the ink supply pipe free from the inkless phenomena must satisfy 3V/D<2>pi>=L>=d/2. In other words, an ink cartridge is fitted to a cartridge and a supply pipe 7 is brought into contact with the negative pressure-generating member 3 by pressure and inserted by distance L reached from the internal wall of the same member-holding part to the tip of the supply pipe 7 and joint is finished. When the insertion quantity L is insufficient at this time, the inkless phonomena are occured. The supply pipe is penetrated by >=1/2 of opening diameter (d) in the part abutting to the member 3 in order to prevent the inkless phenomena. The following inequality is necessitated; L>=d/2. When the suction quantity V of a pump is smaller than a high density part V0 at this time, air of the part V0 is not thoroughly sucked and the inkless phenomena are occured. Because V0=4/3.piL(D/2)<2>, the following inequality is necessitated; V>=1/3.piLD<2>.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus for recording ink on a recording medium such as paper by ejecting ink contained in a replaceable ink cartridge from an ink jet recording head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In various devices such as printers, facsimiles and copying machines, ink jet recording devices are being widely used as means for recording on recording media.

An example of an ink jet recording apparatus is one in which the ink is ejected from a recording head facing a recording medium by utilizing heat energy, and the ink jet recording apparatus is housed in a separate device case to form a single unit. Then, there is an example in which various electronic devices for creating and inputting recorded information, such as a word processor and a personal computer, are built in a device case and integrated with the electronic device.

An ink jet recording apparatus for performing color recording is provided with a plurality of replaceable ink tanks, an ink supply pipe connected to a recording head is inserted into the ink tank, and is pressed against an absorber containing recording ink. Ink is supplied to the recording head.

The ink container used in the ink jet recording apparatus can supply ink in an amount suitable for the amount of ink ejected from the recording head at the time of recording, and at the time of non-recording, it can be discharged from the ejection port. No ink leakage is required. Furthermore, in the case of a replaceable ink container, it is required that the ink container is smoothly attached and detached, there is no ink leakage, and there is no ink exhaustion so that the ink can be reliably supplied to the recording head. It

An ink container used in a conventional ink jet recording apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-63242 (hereinafter referred to as a first conventional example). this is,
It is an inkjet recording cartridge provided with a plurality of ink ejection orifices in which a foam material is arranged in an ink container. In this ink container, since ink is stored in a porous medium such as polyurethane foam, which is a foam material, a negative pressure is generated by the capillary force of the foam and the ink is retained (prevention of ink leakage from the ink container). ing.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-522 (hereinafter referred to as "second
A conventional example) discloses an inkjet recording cartridge in which a primary ink storage unit, a secondary ink storage unit, and an inkjet recording head are connected by a porous member. In the invention, the use efficiency of the ink is improved by disposing the porous member only in the ink flow path without incorporating it in the ink storage portion. Further, by providing the secondary ink storage unit, the ink flowing out from the primary ink storage unit due to the air expansion of the primary ink storage unit due to the temperature rise (pressure drop) is stored, and the negative pressure to the recording head at the time of recording is reduced. It remains virtually constant.

[0008]

However, in the first conventional example, since the foam is required almost in the ink storage layer, the filling amount of the ink is limited and the foam is not used in the foam. There is a problem that the remaining ink amount is large and the ink use efficiency is poor, and it is difficult to detect the remaining ink amount, and it is also difficult to make the negative pressure almost constant during the ink consumption period. There was a problem.

In the second conventional example, the ink is sufficiently impregnated in the porous medium because the negative pressure generating medium is arranged in the ink flow path during non-recording. There is a problem that the negative pressure is insufficiently generated by the capillary force of the medium, and the ink leaks from the orifice of the inkjet recording head by a slight impact. Further, there is a problem that it cannot be applied to a replaceable ink cartridge in which the ink jet recording head is integrally formed with the ink container in advance and the ink container is attached to the ink recording head.

In order to increase the recording speed of the ink jet recording apparatus, it is necessary to supply a large amount of ink in a short time, and a thick ink supply pipe is required. Therefore, when the ink cartridge is replaced and the ink supply pipe is inserted and pressed against the absorber, the absorber is pressed and compressed by the tip of the ink supply pipe, the absorbed ink seeps out, and leaks outside the ink cartridge. The device or the recording medium was sometimes soiled.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and prevents ink for recording from leaking out from the ink cartridge mounting portion to the outside when ink cartridges are repeatedly replaced. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inkjet recording apparatus that can immediately restart normal recording operation.

[0012]

For this reason, in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, the tip portion is inserted into a replaceable ink cartridge containing a negative pressure generating member that absorbs and holds the recording ink. An ink jet that includes an ink supply pipe that presses a pressure generating member to supply ink to the recording head, and a recovery pump that sucks ink to recover the ink ejection function, and ejects ink from the recording head to a recording medium for recording. In the recording apparatus, the length L by which the ink supply pipe presses the negative pressure generating member and is inserted into the exchangeable ink cartridge is such that the outer diameter D, the inner diameter d, and the recovery pump of the tip portion of the ink supply pipe. With respect to the suction amount V of 3V / D ² π ≧ L ≧ d / 2, the above object is achieved.

[0013]

With the above construction, when the ink tank is replaced and the ink supply pipe 1 is inserted into the ink tank, the ink supply pipe can be inserted to 1/2 or more of the inner diameter of the tip portion, and the negative pressure generating member can be sufficiently provided. Since it is compressed so that it can work, ink leakage can be prevented, and at the same time, clogging of the ink supply pipe can be prevented.

Moreover, 3V / D ² π ≧ L means that V ≧ 4/3 · πL (D / 2) ² and the negative pressure near the tip of the ink supply pipe generated by the insertion of the ink supply pipe. The compressed air in the generating member can be sucked by the suction amount V of the recovery pump to restore the ink discharge function to a complete state.

[0015]

EXAMPLES An ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described by way of examples.

The embodiment is configured and operated as described below with respect to the insertion of the replaceable ink cartridge and the ink supply pipe (joint member) which is inserted into the ink cartridge and supplies the ink to the ink jet recording head. have. Since the other mechanism / configuration is similar to that of the conventional inkjet recording apparatus, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a partially cutaway ink cartridge which is replaceably mounted in the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the same.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ink cartridge body 1 of this embodiment has an opening 2 for connecting with an ink jet recording head, and a negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 4 accommodating a negative pressure generating member 3. And an ink storage portion 6 that is adjacent to the negative pressure generation member storage portion via a rib 5 and that stores ink that is in communication with the ink cartridge bottom portion 11.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. Figure 3
In (a), (b), and (c), a joint member 7 for supplying ink to an inkjet recording head is inserted into the exchangeable ink cartridge of this embodiment, and the inkjet recording device is brought into pressure contact with the negative pressure generating member 3. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view when the device becomes operable. A filter may be installed at the end of the joint member to remove dust inside the ink cartridge.

When the ink jet recording apparatus operates, ink is ejected from the orifice of the ink jet recording head, and an ink suction force is generated in the replaceable ink cartridge. Due to this suction force, the ink 9 passes through the gap portion 8 between the rib end portion and the ink cartridge bottom portion 11 from the ink containing portion 6, into the negative pressure generating member containing portion 4, and through the negative pressure generating member 3 into the joint member 7. Is supplied to the inkjet recording head. As a result, the pressure inside the ink containing section 6 that is closed except for the gap section 8 decreases, and a pressure difference is generated between the ink containing section 6 and the negative pressure generating member containing section 4. When the record continues, the pressure difference continues to rise,
Since the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 4 is released to the atmosphere through the gap 10 between the joint member 7 and the joint opening portion, air passes between the rib end portion 8 and the ink cartridge bottom portion 11 through the negative pressure generating member. The ink enters the ink container 4 through the gap 8. At this time, the pressure difference between the ink containing portion 6 and the negative pressure generating member containing portion 4 is eliminated. This operation is repeated during inkjet recording, and a certain negative pressure is obtained in the ink cartridge. Further, almost all of the ink in the ink containing portion can be used except the ink attached to the wall surface in the ink containing portion, so that the ink use efficiency is improved.

During non-recording, the capillary force of the negative pressure generating member itself (or the meniscus force at the ink-negative pressure generating member interface) or the like is exerted to prevent ink from leaking from the ink jet recording head.

Incidentally, the exchangeable ink cartridge of this embodiment corresponds to a color ink jet recording apparatus in four colors (for example, black, yellow, magenta and cyan).
Each color ink can be housed and used in a separate replaceable ink cartridge. Further, individual ink cartridges may be integrated into a replaceable ink cartridge, or a replaceable ink cartridge in which a frequently used replaceable ink cartridge for black ink and another color ink integrated replaceable cartridge are separated. It may be a cartridge. These combinations are arbitrary according to the inkjet device.

In the exchangeable ink cartridge, in order to control the negative pressure in the ink jet recording head, not only the negative pressure generating member 3 is selected, the shape and the dimension, but also the shape, the dimension and the rib end 5 of the rib end portion 5 are selected. The shape and size of the gap 8 with the bottom 11 of the ink cartridge, the volume ratio of the negative pressure generating member accommodating part 4 and the ink accommodating part 6, the insertion amount of the joint member 7 into the exchangeable ink cartridge, the shape, the size, and the filter (not shown). It is important to optimize the shape, size, roughness of the surface and surface tension of the ink.

As the negative pressure generating member used in this embodiment, a member known in the art can be used as long as it has the ability to retain ink even with respect to its own weight of liquid (ink) and slight vibration. . For example, a cotton-like material in which fibers are meshed or a porous material having communication holes can be used. A sponge such as polyurethane foam is preferable because it is easy to adjust the ink holding power and the generation of negative pressure. In particular, in the case of foam, it is preferable because it can be adjusted so as to have a desired porosity during foam production. When the foam is subjected to a heat compression treatment to further adjust the porosity, decomposition products due to heating may be generated, which may change the physical properties of the ink and adversely affect the recording quality. Become. Further, in order to manufacture an exchangeable ink cartridge compatible with various inkjet recording devices, a foam having a corresponding porosity is required, but a specific number of cells not subjected to thermal compression (the number of holes per inch). It is preferable to cut the foam material having a size of 1 to a desired size and insert it into the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion by compression to adjust the porosity and the capillary force.

In the above, a structure is provided in which a space is provided between the joint member 7 and the joint opening 2 to take in the atmosphere from the outside of the ink cartridge. However, the present invention is not limited to this structure, and the joint member and the joint opening part are not limited. Any structure and shape may be used. When the negative pressure generating member is a porous member such as sponge,
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, when the joint member is inserted, the porous member is prevented from escaping from the bottom of the ink cartridge, and the pressure contact surface between the filter portion and the negative pressure generating member is maintained and secured. Therefore, it is preferable that the end portion of the joint member 7 has an arbitrary angle (taper) with respect to the joint member insertion direction. Further, it is possible to form a desired groove or the like on the outer wall of the joint member so as to serve as an intake port for the atmosphere. Preferably, the joint member and the opening are provided with a gap not to be sealed, or the lower part of the opening (on the bottom side of the ink cartridge) is formed so as to be close to the outer periphery of the joint member and open at the upper part of the opening. .

Next, the repeated desorption, which is the most important effect in this embodiment, will be described.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the problems that occur during repeated desorption.

In the replaceable ink cartridge,
It is essential to attach and detach the ink cartridge at the time of initial mounting and by the user who is using it. Not only for the purpose of replacement, but also for meaningless purposes, users may be detached. At this time, occurrence of ink shortage or ink leakage is a serious drawback for the replaceable ink cartridge.

FIG. 4A is a side sectional view showing a state immediately before the supply pipe 7 to the recording head is inserted into the opening 2 provided in the ink cartridge 1. Let D be the diameter of the supply pipe.

In FIG. 4B, the ink cartridge is mounted on a carriage (not shown), and the supply pipe 7 is connected to the negative pressure generating member 3.
It is in a state in which the joint has been completed by pressing it into place and inserting it by the distance L from the inner wall of the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion to the tip of the supply pipe 7 as shown in the figure.

At this time, if the insertion amount L serving as a joint is not sufficient, the compression rate of the negative pressure generating member 3 does not increase so much that the air supplied from the opening 2 is taken into the negative pressure generating member.
The taken-in air moves to the tip of the supply pipe 7, air is supplied to the recording head, and clogging of the filter at the tip causes the ink to run out.

In order to prevent this, it has been developed that it is necessary to infiltrate 1/2 or more of the opening diameter d at the portion in contact with the negative pressure generating member, which is the maximum inner diameter (diameter) of the supply pipe 7. Confirmed above.

That is, it is necessary that L ≧ d / 2.

Next, after repeated repeated desorption, as shown in FIG. 4 (c), when the supply pipe 7 is removed, the negative pressure generating member rapidly returns to its initial shape, but the negative pressure generating member Since the ink cannot move instantaneously, air is taken in from the opening 2 instead, and a high air density portion is formed in the area V _{0 in} the figure. Even if the supply pipe is further inserted as shown in FIG. 4D, the portion V ₀ having a high air density remains formed at the tip of the supply pipe 7.

[0035] At this time, the pump suction amount V due to the recovery operation, not shown in the recovery pump for the ink suction for recovering ink ejection function that is provided in the recording apparatus is less than V ₀ value, V ₀ region of The air is not sucked out and ink runs out.

[0036] Here, the supply pipe insertion amount is L, the supply tube outer diameter is D, the volume of V ₀ can be expressed by _{V 0 = 4/3 · πL} (D / 2) 2.

Therefore, it is necessary that V ≧ 1/3 · πLD ² .

No ink runs out, no ink runs out even during frequent desorption, and the insertion amount L of the supply pipe
Is when the pump suction amount is V, the supply pipe outer diameter D, and the inner diameter d,
It is important to establish the following relationships as they occur.

3V / D ² π ≧ L ≧ d / 2 As shown in FIG. 5, the above relational expression has the same effect in a replaceable ink cartridge in which all are negative pressure generating member accommodating portions 4.

As described above, the replaceable ink cartridge of this embodiment can serve as both the joint opening and the portion for taking in the atmosphere, and can have a simpler structure. The amount of the joint member 7 to be inserted into the exchangeable ink cartridge does not cause ink leakage at the time of insertion in consideration of the shape of the joint member, the negative pressure generating member, the shape of the ink cartridge, etc., and the ink runs out during recording. You must decide not to cause such a thing.
It should be noted that it is optional to provide a communication hole with the atmosphere on the side of the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion, separately from the joint opening, if necessary. This is a suitable means for improving the reliability against environmental changes in the inkjet recording apparatus.

The shape of the filter at the tip of the joint member 7,
The dimensions and roughness can be set arbitrarily according to the type of inkjet recording device, but in order to prevent dust from entering from the ink cartridge and not to clog the nozzles of the recording head, make it smaller than the diameter of the orifice. Is preferred.

As the ink to be filled in the exchangeable ink cartridge of this embodiment, conventionally known ink can be used. Also,
The amount of ink to be filled in the replaceable ink cartridge is arbitrary within the ink cartridge's internal volume, but it may be filled up to the volume limit in the ink containing portion in order to maintain the negative pressure immediately after opening the replaceable ink cartridge. However, it is preferable that the ink filling amount in the negative pressure generating member is set to be equal to or less than the limit of the ink holding force of the negative pressure generating member. The term "ink holding power" as used in the present invention refers to the ability of the negative pressure generating member to hold the ink by itself when the negative pressure generating member is impregnated with the ink.

Next, the distribution of ink cartridges alone will be described.

In the distribution of the ink cartridge alone, it is preferable to seal the joint opening and / or the air communication hole with a sealing material or the like to provide ink evaporation and air expansion in the ink cartridge. As a sealing material,
In the packaging field, it is possible to use a single-layer barrier called a barrier material and a composite of several layers of plastic film, and a composite barrier material in which these are combined with a reinforcing material such as paper or cloth, or an aluminum foil. preferable.
It is more preferable to use a material similar to the material of the ink cartridge main body as an adhesive layer of the barrier material, and improve the hermeticity by welding with a heat or the like.

Further, in order to suppress the evaporation of ink from the ink cartridge or the inflow from the outside atmosphere, after the ink cartridge is inserted, the air inside the packaging material is degassed and then sealed. It is effective. The packaging material is preferably selected from the barrier materials in the same manner as the above sealing material in consideration of gas permeability and liquid permeability.

By selecting the packaging form as described above, the physical distribution of the ink cartridge alone becomes very reliable without ink leakage.

(Second Embodiment) The second embodiment comprises an opening portion connected to the ink jet recording head and a negative pressure generating member accommodating portion for accommodating a negative pressure generating member. Ink is stored in the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion. The supply pipe, which is accommodated and inserted from the opening portion connected to the recording head, is provided in the recording head for contacting the negative pressure generating member and supplying the ink to the recording head, has a diameter of D (mm). The insertion amount L (mm) of the supply pipe into the generating member is set so that 2 mm ≦ L ≦ D when the exchangeable cartridge is mounted.

Further, when the diameter of the supply pipe is 4 mm or more, it is provided as a more preferable condition so that L = D / 2, and the use efficiency of ink and leakage at the time of attachment / detachment are taken into consideration. According to the present invention, the object of the present invention is achieved by providing a replaceable ink jet ink cartridge that is adjacent to the negative pressure generating member accommodating portion and that has an ink accommodating portion that accommodates ink that has been communicated with the bottom communication portion. It is configured to be able to.

(Description of Manufacturing Method) The material of the ink cartridge body may be any material conventionally used for molded articles, but it is treated so that it does not affect the ink jet ink or does not affect it. It is necessary to select from the listed members. It is also necessary to consider the productivity of the ink cartridge. For example, the ink cartridge body is divided into an ink cartridge bottom portion 11 and an upper portion thereof, which are integrally molded with a resin material, and after a negative pressure generating member is inserted, the ink cartridge bottom portion 11 and the upper portion thereof are welded. The ink cartridge body can be manufactured. If the resin material is selected to be transparent or semi-transparent, the ink in the ink containing portion can be visually recognized from the outside of the ink cartridge, so that the replacement time of the ink cartridge can be visually determined. Further, it is preferable to provide a convex portion in order to facilitate the welding of the sealing material and the like. Furthermore, it is also preferable in terms of design to give the outer surface of the ink cartridge body a texture.

Both the pressurizing method and the depressurizing method can be used for filling the ink. It should be noted that it is preferable to provide an ink filling port in any one of the tank main bodies for ink filling because it does not stain other ink cartridge openings. The ink filling port after filling the ink is preferably plugged with a plastic or metal material.

The configuration and shape of the replaceable ink cartridge can be modified in various ways.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway schematic view showing a state in which the recording head is mounted on the ink tank shown in the embodiment. The ink tank is configured by covering a container, which is divided into two chambers by the ribs 5, with a bottom 11 of a flat plate that constitutes the bottom of the ink tank. With such a simple structure that the lid is provided, a passage 8 is provided between the rib 5 and the tip of the container.
Can be formed.

On the other hand, the head is mounted by inserting the joint portion 7 into the opening portion of the ink tank, and the joint portion 7 has an oblique structure in which the upper portion is forward from the lower portion as shown in the drawing. Further, the ink flow path inside the joint has a horn structure that opens upward.
With such a structure, the ink from the absorber can be satisfactorily introduced to the head side.

The present invention, in particular, in an ink jet recording apparatus, is provided with a means for generating thermal energy as energy used for ejecting ink, and recording by a method of causing a change in the state of the ink by the thermal energy. In a head and a recording device, it has an excellent effect. According to such a method, high density recording,
This is because high definition can be achieved.

With regard to its typical structure and principle, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740 are applicable.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
It can be applied to any of the continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to the sheet holding the liquid (ink) or the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the flow path. By applying at least one drive signal that corresponds to the recorded information and causes a rapid temperature rise beyond nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter, and film boiling occurs on the heat acting surface of the recording head. As a result, bubbles can be formed in the liquid (ink) in a one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal, which is effective. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings by the growth and contraction of the bubbles to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal into a pulse shape, because the bubble growth and contraction are immediately and appropriately performed, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be achieved. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345 are used.
Those as described in the '262 patent are suitable. Further excellent recording can be performed by adopting the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,244 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise on the heat acting surface.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the discharge port, the flow passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, The configurations using US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose the configuration in which the heat acting portion is arranged in the bending region, are also effective in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is provided. The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-138431, which discloses a configuration corresponding to the ejection portion.

Further, although the serial type ink jet recording apparatus is shown in the embodiment, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum recordable width. As a full-line type recording head, by a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specification, either a configuration that satisfies the length or a configuration as one recording head integrally formed is used. Although good, the present invention can more effectively exhibit the above-mentioned effects.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head and preliminary auxiliary means provided as a constitution of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specific examples thereof include capping means, cleaning means, pressurization or suction means, an electrothermal converter or a heating element other than this, a preheating means for the recording head, and a recording head for the recording head. It is also effective to perform a stable recording by performing a preliminary discharge mode in which another discharge is performed.

Regarding the recording head to be mounted and the type and number of inks, for example, a single color ink and 1
In addition to one provided with a plurality of recording heads, a plurality of heads may be provided corresponding to a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities, and any combination is effective. The present invention is effective not only as a recording mode of black or the like as a recording mode of the recording apparatus but also in a full-color recording mode of different colors or mixed colors.

In the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the ink is described as a liquid, but it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and softens or melts at room temperature, or the above-mentioned ink. In the inkjet, it is common to control the temperature of the ink itself in the range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range. Anything can be used. In addition, in order to prevent temperature rise due to heat energy, ink that is positively used as energy for phase change from solid state to liquid state, or ink that solidifies when left standing for the purpose of preventing ink evaporation is used. In any case, the thermal energy such as the one that the ink is liquefied by the application of the thermal energy according to the recording signal and ejected as an ink liquid, or the one that has already started to solidify when it reaches the recording medium is used. The use of an ink having the property of liquefying for the first time is also applicable to the present invention. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

Further, the present invention is an ink jet system such as a piezo jet system in which electricity is converted into a force to eject ink, and a recording system in which a recording head is disposed in non-contact with a recording medium and ink is ejected for recording. Is effective in.

In addition, as a form of the recording apparatus of the present invention, a copying apparatus combined with a scanner or the like, which is integrally or separately provided as an output terminal of the information processing equipment such as the word processor and the computer as described above, Further, it may be in the form of a facsimile machine having a transmission / reception function.

[0063]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The replaceable ink cartridge is a replaceable ink cartridge that maintains high reliability even during a single distribution and has a simple structure and high ink use efficiency.

Also, a replaceable type that maintains a suitable negative pressure during recording and during non-recording and supports high-speed recording from the beginning of use to the end of use, and does not leak ink even under the environmental conditions of use of the inkjet recording apparatus. It becomes an ink cartridge.

Further, even when the exchangeable ink cartridge is attached to or detached from the ink jet recording apparatus, there is no ink leakage or ink exhaustion, and normal recording operation can be restarted immediately.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of an ink cartridge of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the outline of an ink cartridge of one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing an ink cartridge to which a joint member is joined.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a joint portion for explaining the effect of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the outline of another ink cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway schematic view showing a state where the ink cartridge shown in the embodiment is mounted on a recording head.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Main body of ink cartridge 2 Joint opening 3 Negative pressure generating member 4 Negative pressure generating member accommodating portion 5 Rib 6 Ink accommodating portion 7 Joint member 8 Gap 10 Gap 11 Cartridge bottom D Outer diameter of supply pipe d Inner diameter of supply pipe tip L Insertion dimension of supply pipe V Suction amount of recovery pump

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Toshio Kashino 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Naoto Asai 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Within the corporation

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An ink supply tube for inserting a tip into a replaceable ink cartridge accommodating a negative pressure generating member that absorbs and holds recording ink, presses the negative pressure generating member and supplies ink to a recording head. An ink jet recording apparatus that includes a recovery pump that sucks ink to recover the ink discharge function, and discharges ink from a recording head to a recording medium to perform recording, wherein the ink supply pipe includes a negative pressure generating member. The length L that is pressed and inserted into the exchangeable ink cartridge is determined by the outer diameter D, inner diameter d, and
An inkjet recording apparatus, wherein: 3V / D ² π ≧ L ≧ d / 2 with respect to the suction amount V of the recovery pump. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a filter is provided at a tip opening portion of the ink supply pipe. 3. The ink jet recording according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an ink storage portion that is adjacent to a negative pressure generation member storage portion that stores a negative pressure generation member and that is adjacent to the negative pressure generation member storage portion and that stores ink. apparatus.